ProsSoft. Not as big as a full blanket. Lots of different animals to choose from.

ConsThey get misplaced easily. They will get pretty worn over time, but they are hard to let go. Official site is not secured (SSL cert issue).

ThoughtsWe were looking for something for our first daughter to associate with night sleep and someone mentioned these lovies. They work great and we’ve used them with both girls. However, we only rotated three of them and they got pretty holey from all of the biting. We introduced a fourth, but it was so new that it was shunned. Henceforth, our daughter referred to them as “old” and “new” lovies.

Dad TipsBuy more than one and rotate them. Trust me. They come in two or three-packs, so there is no excuse. Don’t be the dad with a crying child who won’t go to sleep because you have no spares. Two is one and one is none.

Buy them from any large online retailer, since the official ecommerce site doesn’t appear to be secure (as of the date of this post).

ConsMay be too big for small microwaves. You may get steamed if you’re not paying attention.

ThoughtsOur first few days home after the hospital, I was on daddy duty and sterilizing bottles by boiling them. We were doing “confinement” (坐月子) at my in-laws’ and their microwave was too small to fit this sterilizer in. When we got back to our own home, I was so glad to be able to use this in our own microwave. Simply follow the directions and use the correct amount of time for your microwave’s wattage.

ProsSwappable heads with different sizes. First press turns on the light. Lasts a long time on one battery. Kids love treating it as a toy.

ConsThe head can come loose if you are constantly changing heads.

ThoughtsSince me and my wife have electric toothbrushes of our own, naturally got one for our girls. Our elder daughter didn’t like it at first, but accepted it when we explained that it helps brush her teeth better. Our toddler loves it more than the banana brush.

Dad TipsBuy a second one instead of having kids share. Constantly changing the heads to different sizes will wear down the notches that secure them.

Turn up the volume if you are using some screen time to distract your kid while brushing their teeth.

ThoughtsI had no idea was muslin was and these seemed too fancy for me. I liked that they were light. As time passed, we consider these our “useless bibs” because the snaps became loose on multiple bibs. Tightening them didn’t help for long. They were good while they lasted.

ConsThe pump parts can be tough to disassemble. Be ready to buy replacement parts.

ThoughtsNot that we have much say when it comes to breast pumps, but if you do come face to face with one of these, it helps to have some tips. It is pretty straightforward to use and my wife went back to using this for #2 instead of using the brand new hospital-grade Spectra that we got.

Dad TipsKeep batteries ready in the battery pack and keep them fresh, but this should be a last-resort power source.

Have an inverter in the car to plug into if she wants to pump while driving or parked.

Keep tongue and groove pliers in case there is a pump part that needs loosening (the part that milk drips from into the bottle). Have small brushes to clean the pump parts.

ThoughtsThese were recommended to me by a medical professional. Whether it is taking splinters out for your kids or yourself, the sharp point does wonders. Few things are more infuriating than tweezers that can’t get the job done. The faster I can take out a splinter for my girls, the better.

Dad TipsBuy a bunch (they come in 2-packs) and keep them in every car/bag and with your keys.

​Throw away the terrible tweezers in your first aid kits and replace them with these.

ProsCheap. Easy to fold/store in diaper bags. Multi-purpose. Great for small trash cans.

ConsMakes you wish you had a hanger like grocery stores do.

ThoughtsBeing in CA, we now have to pay for grocery plastic bags. Being Asian, we had a metric ton of them from shopping at 99 Ranch to line our small trash cans, but we’ve finally depleted our reserves because of the deluge of diapers. These were recommended by others looking for a new source of trash bags/liners.

Dad TipsNeatly fold a stack of them and put them in a diaper bag for dirty/wet clothes, bibs, diapers, shoes, or for those times when you just need a bag.

I hang a stack from a clothes hanger to make dispensing easier. Wall hooks will work, too.

It goes without saying: these are not toys, so keep them away from small children.

ProsTwo pairs of clasps for three adjustable sizes. Forms a pocket under the chin to hold food and/or drool.

ConsDoes not have plastic backing. Sticks out when you stack them with traditional bibs. Your MIL may not approve.

ThoughtsMy wife and I love using these, especially at meal times to catch food. The downside was that she had to listen to my mom about why she does like not triangular bibs along with the rest of our parenting choices.

Dad TipsDon’t worry about going to the smallest size. The pocket makes it hard to tell if it is tight or loose around the neck until you fasten it and pull it down.

Double check to make sure that your little girl’s hair didn’t get caught when you fastened it. It is too late when you notice her trying to grab the back of her head.

ProsNo scent. Flip lid. Can be put into a dispenser compartment. Great baby shower gift. Holds in the moisture pretty well.

ConsYou have to wait if you want to put it in a diaper bag or dispenser compartment.

ThoughtsOf all of the brands that we’ve tried (major and store brand), this is our favorite. We can do without the baby powder smell. Also, having a lid means that we don’t have to find a dispenser, which sometimes dries out the wipes. Each pouch is pretty thick, which is good when you are trying to keep multiple kids clean.

Dad TipsKeep an extra box or two in case you need a last-minute baby shower gift.

When you have about an inch left of wipes, you can save it for a diaper bag.

ProsWide enough for two small children. Great for crawlers who like sitting on things. Can be used for naps or a changing pad in a pinch. Foam is quieter than inflatables.

ConsArms rests aren’t sturdy, so kids will fall over if they lean to the side. Prices can vary wildly depending on the design.

ThoughtsI bought this as a Christmas gift for the girls to share. Our baby was getting closer to standing and enjoyed sitting on things, like steps and her sister’s little potty. Her daycare had a little sofa, so I figured the little one might like it and she does.We have our older one sit on it while we do her hair.​I much prefer these foam ones than the inflatables, like the Peppa Pig ones that we have still sitting in boxes. Quieter and more comfortable.

Dad TipsIn a pinch, you can always open it up and lie on it yourself. It beats lying on the carpet.

Don’t overspend just to get a specific cartoon/design. I’ve seen some go for twice as much as others simply because the cartoon was more recent.